CONWAY — UCA Public Appearances more than doubled its previous record for ticket sales when individual seats for the 2012-13season went on sale Aug. 13.
Opening day saw 1,299 tickets sold, with 1,980 sold for theweek.
The previous record was for the 2010-11 season, when PA sold568 tickets the first day of sales and 823 for the first week. Last season, 385were sold the first day and 716 for the week.
“We knew the lineup of this season would be popular but neverdreamed that we would smash our previous record,” said Ashley Love,director of finance and marketing for UCA Public Appearances. “We wouldlike to thank the community for supporting the performing arts and allowing usto reach this goal. Each year our season grows, and without the tremendoussupport of Central Arkansas, we would notsurvive.”
Dr. Rollin Potter, dean of UCA’s College of Fine Artsand Communication, echoed Love’s appreciation for Public Appearancessupporters.
“UCA, Conway, Faulkner Countyand much of Arkansascontinue to come together to make our campus and Reynolds Performance Hall theplace to be for arts activities,” he said.
The season, which consists of 13 events and two DistinguishedLectures, includes:
• Tim Gunn, UCA Distinguished Lecture, Sept. 24, 7:30p.m.;
• American Legacies: Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band, Sept.30, 3 p.m.;
• The Capitol Steps, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.;
• Rufus Wainwright, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.;
• Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.;
• Shrek The Musical, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.;
• Straight No Chaser, Nov. 11, 3 p.m.;
• Celtic Crossroads in A Celtic Christmas, Dec. 9, 3p.m.;
• A Chorus Line, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.;
• Drumline Live, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.;
• Herman Edwards, UCA Distinguished Lecture, Feb. 12,7:30 p.m.;
• The American Boychoir, March 1, 7:30 p.m.;
• Temptation of the Muses: The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Companyand The Ahn Trio, March 7, 7:30 p.m.;
• Amy Grant, April 2, 7:30 p.m.;
• The 5 Browns, April 15, 7:30 p.m.
All performances will be in the Donald W. Reynolds PerformanceHall.
“Each year when individual tickets go on sale, we are a littlenervous about just how the season that we have been working on for nearly ayear will really go over,” Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA PublicAppearances, said. “This year’s response from the university communityand the community at large has been tremendous, making all our work worthwhile.”
Tickets remain on sale, although Love said some events werenearly sold out. To purchase, call the box office at (501) 450-3265 or goonline at www.uca.edu/reynolds. Pricingand details about all upcoming performances as well as information aboutReynolds Performance Hall may be found there.
